04/03/2019
Peleliu
Lkes, a coastal wetland on the Pacific island of Palau, is threatened by the
development of a nearby tourist resort. The site is an intertidal zone of
pristine sand flats and islets and is a sanctuary for migrating shorebirds,
including Far
Eastern Curlew, serving as a stopover for birds travelling from
Arctic and subarctic breeding grounds to coastal sites in Australia and New
Zealand.
However,
an islet adjacent to the Lkes has been leased to a foreign developer for
$300,000 with the intention of developing it into a tourist resort. Needless to
say, any resort-based operations on the islet will encroach into the reef and
likely severely degrade the important habitat. Furthermore, levels of
disturbance will be raised.
Several
Endangered species, including Micronesian
Megapode, Far Eastern Curlew and Great
Knot rely
on Peleliu Lkes. Favourable tidal conditions present ample feeding
opportunities for resident and migratory species alike. Unsurprisingly,
BirdLife has added the site to their inventory of global Important Bird &
Biodiversity Areas (IBAs).
BirdLife's
partner on the island – Palau Conservation Society (PCS) – has been working to
preserve the area and faces a fresh challenge in light of the recent leasing.
Stressing the vital role Peleliu Lkes plays for both the local community and
birds, PCS are lobbying to convince islanders and politicians that the area
needs immediate protection. Hopefully, both local and global pressure will lead
to the site being included on the national network of protected areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment